Just as a resolution seemed imminent in the Dionne Quints home saga, public backlash and a possible new/old solution resulted in the matter being referred back to committee.
Three options have emerged in the decision on what to do with the City-owned historical home, and the common thread seems to be receiving the blessing of the surviving Dionne sisters and preserving, at the very least, the paper artifacts found inside, if not the clothing and furnishings as well.
Roch Legros, a relative of the Dionne family, told North Bay City Council Monday that he and partner Russell Robinson are renewing their efforts to return the building to its original location, on the Dionne homestead. The group had originally made a similar proposal in late 2015, but it was suggested that they grew frustrated with the process.
The Legros group is proposing a move back to Corbeil, but is open to placement at North Bay's waterfront, and is opposed to a move to Strong Township. Their main focus seems to be the wishes of the surviving Dionne sisters.
"I don't think they (the Dionnes) were consulted about it going to Strong Township," said Legros in response to an inquiry from Coun. Tanya Vrebosch.
"They want it preserved, it's fundamental. It's their history and ours. They are sharing that with us. North Bay or Ottawa," are their preferences for a resting place for the home, said Legros.
"The entire family, there are still surviving brothers and sisters out there, none have been consulted," said Legros.
Jeff Fournier has twice pleaded the case for the home to be moved within the city limits, preferably in the waterfront area. Fournier has the backing of in excess of 2,000 signatures on a petition he created that, among other things, would seek designation of the home and its artifacts as protected under the Ontario Heritage Act.
"It is beyond comprehension that a township of 1,200 people could find funding to take ownership of the Dionne home, while North Bay, a city of 54,000 could not," remarked Fournier in his presentation to Council Monday evening.
"North Bay has a volunteer population of at least 1,200," which is equal to the total population of Strong Township, and those volunteers would be eager to help operate the Dionne Museum declared Fournier.
Fournier also suggested that funds to move the Dionne home could be granted from the sale of the land that it sits on, currently valued at nearly $1 million.
"It doesn't appear that the City was ever interested in maintaining ownership of the Dionne home," observed Fournier, while also indicating that he would volunteer his time and sit on any committee that would see the home moved within the city limits.
The third option, moving the home to Strong Township as an exhibit at a pioneer village, and donating the paper documents to the Harris Learning Library at Nipissing University, and some other artifacts to the Callander Bay Museum, was the odds-on favourite entering the night.
This option was the preferred choice of a subcommittee consisting of John Severino, Managing Director of Community Services, Peter Handley and Peter Carello (chair and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the local heritage committee), and Patti Carr, Executive Director of the North Bay Chamber of Commerce.
The Harris Learning Library was the clear winner from these developments, as it appears that, regardless of where the home is moved, the library will receive the delicate paper documents. An engaging Nancy Black, on behalf of the library, spoke eagerly of plans to digitize the artifacts, under the watchful eye of the resident archivist, as well as house the originals.
With the matter referred back to the General Government Committee, instead of Community Services (due to legalities regarding the Legros proposal), a resolution may take weeks, if not longer.
In the report recommending the Strong Township proposal, the language suggests that the City would like a decision made by the end of 2016. "If the Dionne home is moved from North Bay, it will be lost to its citizens forever," said Fournier in his presentation, and it seems at this point, that staffers would like nothing more.
